The first half of the season was as dour as can be as Aston Villa were nicknamed Aston Nilla because they couldn’t score in a brothel.

Roy Keane hit the headlines when he left the club after just five months and as Villa slipped into the bottom three during those dark winter months Paul Lambert was axed by Randy Lerner and Tom Fox.

Takeover talk dominated the season but it was Lerner who sat in the Royal Box alongside Prince William for the FA Cup Final cheering on his side.

It might well be his last game in charge and how fitting would it have been for Tim Sherwood – the man who saved Villa from relegation – to give the US billionaire one last cheer before his inevitable departure.

Sadly Arsenal proved to be too powerful and the Wembley showpiece proved to be one hurdle too many.

There were some good memories from the season, though.

Player of the season

Nothing would please me more than to dedicate this section to Ciaran Clark .

And if he hadn’t hobbled off with a knee injury back in April, forcing him to miss the final seven games of the season, I would be waxing lyrical about his performances.

Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark in action at Sunderland

Thrown in only because of injuries elsewhere, the academy graduate who just happens to also be a very likeable lad, took his chance and thrived.

You can stare at me with those piercing blue eyes all you like, though Ciaran, you’re not getting the vote ahead of Fabian Delph. Villa’s skipper took his game to a new level.

He was consistently brilliant all season and even a shoulder injury during the winter didn’t thwart his progress. Well done Delphy, you’re a class act.

Goal of the season

Remember that little gifted Spaniard called Carles Gil? Looked half decent didn’t he, especially after that stunning goal against Bournemouth in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Carles Gil celebrates after scoring his first goal for Aston Villa against Bournemouth

With his lightning-quick feet Gil cut inside from the right and curled the ball over Lee Camp. Why he hasn’t been given a chance under Sherwood remains a mystery.

Best interviewee

Ask any journalist in the Midlands and they’ll tell you that Delph is a diamond.

He’s insightful, thoughtful and direct with his responses and because of his growing stature whatever he says these days carries significant weight.

Fabian Delph

I’ve particularly enjoyed Sherwood’s press conferences in recent times and a special mention must go to goalkeeping coach Tony Parks, too.

In victory or defeat, and even during one of the lowest points of his life as he came to terms with the death of his son Joseph, he still found time to chat about events on the pitch. A real top guy.

Best interview

When Sherwood addressed the huddle of Sunday newspaper journalists before the FA Cup Final you sensed he could have talked all day long.

Casually dressed in a tracksuit, slightly tired-looking and razorless for two or three days, the Villa boss sat in the centre of the group and revelled.

Tim Sherwood manager of Aston Villa

Respected reporter Janine Self asked him whether he would cry at Wembley if Villa won. ‘Either way,’ he replied.

Sherwood told Jonathan Northcroft of The Times his plans to ship out the losers who have dragged Villa down for too many years and he explained to me how he almost secured a dream move to Arsenal before Bruce Rioch was sacked.